Greater Miami Jewish Federation and JCRC Statement: U.S. Policy Must Prevent Nuclear Iran

July 2, 2015

With the June 30 deadline to reach an agreement regarding Iran’s nuclear program postponed, the issue continues to be of keen and immediate concern to our entire community and all people of good will.

Based upon extensive dialogue and broad leadership consensus, it is the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s position that the United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom, France and Germany (P5+1) must not agree to any unnecessary and ill-advised concessions simply to bring closure to this critical challenge. A nuclear-equipped Iran poses a dire threat not only to Israel, but also to the United States and the entire global community. Even as negotiations continue to take place, we have serious questions and deep concerns, given Iran’s admitted track record of violating U.N. resolutions on its nuclear development program, thwarting international inspections and continuing its sponsorship of global terrorism – to say nothing of its explicit and repeated expressions of anti-Semitism, Holocaust denial and threats against Israel’s very existence.

Since 2007, Federation and our Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) have diligently and strategically educated our community and advocated with our elected officials to pursue all available options to prevent Iran from developing deliverable nuclear weapons. We have also taken a multi-pronged approach at the county, state and federal levels, pursuing grassroots, face-to-face and back-channel efforts with the legislative and executive branches.

Along with a broad coalition of Jewish and non-Jewish groups – including all 13 Florida Jewish Federations – our JCRC has worked steadily with State of Florida and Miami-Dade County officials to ensure that our state and community remain at the forefront in adopting strong measures to isolate the Iranian regime in the following areas:

          · We worked to pass several bills that (1) divested state investments from companies doing business
          with the energy sector of Iran, and (2) prohibited Florida-chartered banks from doing business with
          any financial institution handling Iranian funds.

          · We worked with both the State of Florida’s Cabinet and the Miami-Dade County Commission to craft
          and approve language that effectively bars any company that does business with Iran from representing
          the State of Florida or Miami-Dade County in financial transactions.

          · We further worked with Miami-Dade municipalities to pass resolutions in which these municipalities
          have divested from companies that conduct business with Iran.

Most recently, in April, a delegation of more than two dozen Federation leaders traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate directly to the Administration and both our Miami-Dade delegation and Congressional leadership on our position regarding a negotiated agreement with Iran.

Iran is the world’s foremost state sponsor of terror and U.S. policy must aggressively seek to prevent Iran from achieving a nuclear weapons capability. Therefore, we believe a final agreement must include the following:

          · An inspection regime sufficient to ensure Iran’s full compliance with the terms of the agreement –
          anytime, anywhere.

          · Staggered, delayed sanctions relief and release of assets, only conditioned upon Iran’s fulfillment of
          its obligations under the deal and coupled with detailed sanction snapback provisions in case of Iranian
          violations.

          · Thorough, long-term investigation of Iran’s nuclear program to ensure that the regime isn’t developing
          nuclear materials for possible military applications.

          · The complete dismantling of Iran’s capability of producing nuclear weapons.

In the event that the agreement does not include these conditions, we urge Congress to signify its disapproval. We also urge the imposition of new and severe sanctions if a detailed, satisfactory accord cannot be reached.

Any comprehensive agreement must be able to withstand public scrutiny and debate, and we applaud Congressional review and oversight. We urge civil discourse, reasoned debate, and a renewed commitment to work together in a bipartisan fashion toward our shared goal of eliminating the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran.

Following are a few links we believe may be of interest:

Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015
(U.S. Congress Website)

Public Statement on U.S. Policy Toward the Iran Nuclear Negotiations Endorsed by a Bipartisan Group of American Diplomats, Legislators, Policymakers, and Experts
(The Washington Institute)

Iranian Breakout Timelines in a Comprehensive Deal
(The Brookings Institution)

How to Make Sure Iran’s One-Year Nuclear Breakout Time Does Not Shrink
(The Washington Institute)

Deal or No, Iran Will Remain a Nuclear Threat
(Politico Magazine)

Parameters for a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action Regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Nuclear Program
(The White House)